Cheese And Charcuterie Boards Are At The Center Of Julie And Aaron Menitoff’s Latest Venture Say Cheese

Their smiles are charming, but it’s the unforgettable events Julie and Aaron Menitoff put together that really win people over. These days, their productions are downright cheesy.

The Wellington couple recently launched CheeseBoarder.com, shipping artistically presented, small-batch, artisanal cheeses and cured meats straight to customers’ doorsteps.

While the gourmet noshing is new, the creativity, quality and presentation behind it are inherent to every project the Menitoffs undertake. As the owners of Wellington Hospitality Group, the couple has catered gatherings for the likes of Prince Harry, Bruce Springsteen and Serena Williams. They have developed hospitality programs for the most prestigious equestrian events in the world, built an eco-resort in Nicaragua and catered private parties for Palm Beach’s elite.

Then came 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Suddenly, social events were wiped from every calendar. Travel was grounded. Catering was put on the back burner, leaving Julie, Aaron and their team looking for innovative ways to support their hospitality company.

After 16 years in the business, the Menitoffs knew cheese and charcuterie displays were the most requested catering items and often used as centerpieces at cocktail receptions. One of their last, large-scale events before the pandemic was an engagement party for equestrians Jennifer Gates and Nayel Nassar. They created a magnificent, 40-foot grazing table.

“They produced an incredible cheese and charcuterie display for our engagement party. It was artistic and delicious, and our guests loved it,” said Jennifer Gates, president of Evergate Stables.

The Menitoffs decided to carve out their slice of the online, edible gift market. They partnered with their logistics manager, Angel Jerez, a sommelier. The team began with local deliveries of cheese and charcuterie. Jerez’s expertise allowed them to offer wine pairings as an option.

Now, with their newly constructed, FDA-approved facility complete, CheeseBoarder.com can ship their gourmet, handcrafted displays anywhere nationwide within 48 hours. They are getting attention from some big players in the specialty food arena. In October, CheeseBoarder.com will be distributed on Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer’s foodie shipping site, Goldbelly.com.

“No one else offers ready-to-eat cheese and charcuterie boards. You can order boxes with blocks of meat and cheese, which you then have to cut and plate,” said Aaron Menitoff, managing partner of CheeseBoarder.com. “Each of our boards come fully assembled and ready to serve with no preparation needed, just open and enjoy. Your guests will think you hired a caterer!”

The boards come in three sizes, serving three to 12 guests, and are cold-packaged for shipping using a vacuum-sealed technique the team developed and patented. Each selection is accompanied by high-end specialty items ranging from dried passion fruit and Turkish figs to everything bagel-flavored cashews and Italian olives.

The social distancing rules of 2020 provided substantial growth for CheeseBoarder.com. As people connected through virtual events and meetings, CheeseBoarder.com presented a way for Zoom attendees to eat and drink together while staying separate. Nonprofits eager to maintain fundraising have offered the boards during their virtual events, adding sponsor information and materials to the shipments, and even coordinating wine deliveries.

Without in-person charitable events, the Menitoffs feel that it is vital for CheeseBoarder.com to contribute to the community. Customers can choose to include a card created by clients at The Arc of Palm Beach County. Proceeds from the cards benefit people with developmental disabilities. As CheeseBoarder.com grows, the couple hopes to employ clients from The Arc through the organization’s employment services program.

“Everything about this project aligns with our lifestyle and our values. The products promote the farm-to-table movement, the containers are eco-friendly, we are supporting a charity that we believe in, and the presentations are artistic,” said Julie Menitoff, CheeseBoarder.com’s general manager.

CheeseBoarder.com just entered the wholesale market. The smaller sizes can be ordered in bulk for businesses to resell to customers or to be sent as corporate gifts. Local companies are finding that these specialty boards are the cheesiest way to connect with clients.

Visit www.cheeseboarder.com for more information about this new, Wellington-based venture.

Today’s Real Estate Market Is Booming,  Particularly For Tech-Savvy Realtors & Clients  Market Trends

Local real estate properties are selling like hotcakes amid the current pandemic, especially for tech-savvy Realtors and their clients who know the ins and outs of the sales tools available to help in socially distant home shopping.

Shelley Sandler and Mary Miller, two of Wellington’s leading Realtors associated with Illustrated Properties, agreed that the region is hot, real estate wise.

“There is a huge inventory shortage in the Wellington area, and the reason I believe this is happening is because of the quarantine,” Sandler said. “There are many people who now realize that they can work at home, and that home can be just about anywhere. They no longer have to wait to retire to find the home and the place where they want to live. They realize they can have the home and the lifestyle they always wanted right now, and they are shying away from the big cities because of the fear of COVID-19 and the mass of people. Palm Beach County may have everything you want but without the congestion of Miami or Chicago.”

Miller stressed that the virus pandemic has given people a new perspective.

“I think you’ve pretty much hit the nail on the head. People can move wherever they want because they’re working pretty much from home. The other people, who are essential workers, have had the time that they spent at home these past few months to give them a new perspective on their lifestyle,” she explained. “They may think, ‘Gee, this really isn’t my dream kitchen’ or ‘this isn’t the perfect home for us,’ and people nowadays have been staying in their homes longer, so they have a lot more equity to get the most out of their home, so it’s a win-win situation.”

Both Realtors believe that this strong market will continue.

“Some people think we are in a bubble,” Sandler said. “I don’t feel that way at all.”

“I don’t either,” Miller added. “The prices may drop a little bit, but I don’t see a crash, because in the last crash, properties were over-financed and there were a lot of bad loans. Now there are very strict rules to prevent any big crash because the loans are managed well. A correction will just be a dip, and the tight inventory with the pent-up demand will dissipate that drop. Any dip we experience in the future, and we come back to the biggest problem we’re all facing, and that is we need more inventory.”

The pandemic has changed how real estate is marketed, and Illustrated Properties is at the forefront of the new trends in advertising, showing and closing.

Some sellers need more time, some have an empty home and are motivated. “You structure your offer appropriately for each area and property,” Sandler said. “We learned to become much more flexible, and we base our business on individual needs. It is more important than ever to have a Realtor that offers specifically individualized service with the staff to support that level of service.”

Sandler and Miller are not a team, but individualized professionals whose service complements each other. “We have each other’s back,” they said almost in tandem.

The agents use 3D photos for cameras in the rooms, allowing viewers to look up and down and all around, and feel like they’re standing in the room and view a potential new home from their current home at their leisure. “We give them walkthroughs using Facetime,” Sandler said.

“We prequalify the prospective buyer so only the most interested and qualified come to an owner-occupied home,” said Miller, who explained that then they follow CDC protocols with social distancing, masks and gloves, and the visitors are alerted not to touch anything. “We don’t want to risk someone’s health to show the property.”

Yet Miller explained that even something as bad as COVID-19 can bring about good things.

“Virtually viewing a property means you can really see the home and get to know if it meets your needs and dreams,” Miller said. “It has opened us up to a lot more virtual showings and made us more versatile.”

It has also made some Realtors stretch their comfort zones to adapt to all the new technology.

“Some of the techno-dinosaurs in the industry have been forced into the use of e-signature and online viewing. Some software is cumbersome, but we use something called AppFiles at Illustrated Properties, and it’s amazing and user-friendly,” Sandler said.

Knowing your clients’ needs is also crucial, Miller added.

“I spend a crazy amount of time making sure that the potential buyer is qualified and certain it is the kind of house they want. There’s enough material online that you can see the property, but you have to be really serious before you walk through the home, especially in an owner-occupied dwelling,” Miller said.

These marketing and advertising innovations are here to stay in all communities and are heating up this bubbling market.

“The benefits of living in Wellington are so numerous,” said Sandler, who has lived in the community since 1986. “People from up north always remark that Wellington is a real town, a real hometown, and not just more urban sprawl.”

Sandler explained that Wellington has a main street and a town center, excellent schools and parks, and some very specialized neighborhoods with the equestrian facets and the Aero Club, gated enclaves with HOAs, and areas with no gates or HOAs.

“There is a nice combination of everything from huge luxury estate homes to townhouses,” Sandler said.

“Wellington has zoning and guidelines that keep it nice,” Miller added.

“I always thought that once my children were grown, I would move to another area, but every time I go outside of Wellington and look around, I come back here to the village,” Sandler said. “I don’t know of another area that feels like Wellington.”

Learn more about Shelley Sandler at www.shelleysandlerproperties.com and Mary Miller at www.marymiller.net.

Survivor Jessica Duemig Warns That Breast Cancer Is A Concern For Women Of All Ages  Early Detection

Jessica Duemig was 32 years old when she discovered a lump that turned out to be breast cancer — eight years before she was due for her first mammogram. Since then, she has written a book about her experience and become an advocate for early detection of this dreaded disease.

Early one morning, Duemig was getting ready for work as an account services representative for an international advertising agency. Career-driven, she worked as a sports marketing expert rising the ranks in a high-pressure industry, when she noticed a sharp pain on her left side, right where the ribcage starts to curve.

“I thought it was a pimple that didn’t have a head on it, and I didn’t think any more about it, explained Duemig, a Wellington High School graduate.

The pimple-like spot went away, but it returned with a vengeance two months later. “One morning, it was back. It hurt, and it was four times the size it had been… The size of a big gumball,” recalled Duemig, who didn’t yet know that her career, in fact, her whole life, had suddenly hit a pink wall.

The bad news: stage two triple negative metaplastic breast cancer — and Duemig said that she can’t stress this enough, it was eight years before she thought she even had to begin worrying about breast cancer.

“They usually start mammograms on women when they are 40,” said Duemig, who found the lump during a time period when she was being recruited for a new, even greater job on the client side of the business. “The doctor told me I’d have to put my life on hold. I said, ‘This isn’t going to work for me.’ My treatment plan followed my own rules. I started my new job the first day after my third chemo treatment. From diagnosis to done, it was seven months. I was single, no kids, materialistic, self-driven, and completely out of the blue, I was going to have a double mastectomy and chemotherapy.”

So, Duemig wrote her book, Warrior: Challenge Accepted.

“Warrior is the book I wished I had the day I got the diagnosis. It would have made a great gift,” she said. “Who was I going to talk to who understood me and my point in life?”

Breast cancer books on the market are not usually geared toward career-focused women.

“There seem to be two types of cancer books,” said Duemig, describing the technical, medically oriented books written by healthcare professionals and, “The fluffy, girlie, kid-glove, softer approach.”

Her book is different.

“Warrior is the story of the battle I went through,” Duemig said. “The cover matches the content. It’s raw and uncensored. It is for survivors and their supporters.”

She explained that the book is for women who have or want to have the “I got this” attitude.

“I went to the doctor the week between Christmas and New Year’s,” Duemig said. “I wanted to get in before my insurance reset at the beginning of the year.”

The doctor confirmed that there was a lump and immediately scheduled her for a mammogram and an ultrasound.

“I’ve heard people say, ‘But mammograms are so uncomfortable,” Duemig said. “I will tell you what’s uncomfortable — surgery, chemo, cancer. That’s really uncomfortable.”

The biopsy was also very unpleasant. “It was the most painful thing that I’ve ever done,” she said.

The lump was growing fast and getting more solid, and if she had waited, it might have been too late.

Duemig was officially diagnosed Feb. 1, 2017. Immediately, she was scheduled for her operation, fertility preservation and four months of chemotherapy. “On Feb. 28, 2020, I was officially cured,” Duemig said. “Now, I am that voice in support groups I wish I had when it happened to me.”

At first, she didn’t think she needed a support group. “They asked me probably at least 15 times if I wanted to join a support group, and I’m very fortunate to have a tight-knit family and a huge group of friends, but none of them have ever been around cancer, and certainly not in someone so young,” Duemig said. “I didn’t know at first that I needed a support group. But just having someone you can call who will sit there on the other end of the phone and listen to you helps. There’s nothing they can say to make it better. There’s no advice that’s going to make it OK. And I asked a lot of questions of the doctors directly.”

In her book, Duemig talks about the chemotherapy and the trepidation that patients have.

“Their mindset can help them with their reaction,” she said. “Chemo is very real, and attitude is everything. You have to go into cancer treatment knowing you’re going to beat it, or at least having convinced yourself that you are, because the minute you start to doubt yourself, the minute you think it’s a death sentence, it very well could be.”

The way the disease affects people is different.

“I was a warrior,” she said. “I gained weight during chemotherapy. That’s unusual, but it shows that attitude is everything. Warrior definitely takes the fear of the unknown off the table. It puts into words what the patient can’t in the heat of the moment when they are literally fighting for their lives.”

In the book, Duemig shares her story, but does not suggest it fits everyone’s situation.

“The book is my experience,” she said. “It is not a recipe book. It is the practical preparation I took and should have taken if someone had told me. It is a guidebook of what to expect, to empower people.”

Warrior: Challenge Accepted by Jessica Duemig is available in hardcover, paperback and audio form on Amazon. Visit www.warriorguidebook.com or www.facebook.com/warriorguidebook to learn more.

Mammograms Should Remain A  Priority Even In Uncertain Times  Breast Health

The pandemic has thrown things into disarray, causing most people to change habits and delay plans. But one activity women should not postpone is getting a mammogram. Cancer won’t wait until the pandemic ends.

“We advocate annual screenings because patients have better outcomes if we catch cancer early. That hasn’t changed,” said radiologist Dr. Kathy Schilling, medical director of the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. “There are more treatment options in the early stages — less aggressive therapies if we find things when they are small and detected early.”

At the center of the region’s COVID-19 response, Boca Regional has played a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of the community — caring for the sick, working at the forefront of local efforts to investigate treatments and speaking out about the importance of protective measures. At the same time, keeping in mind the wider healthcare picture, the hospital has upheld the highest-quality care in emergency medicine, women’s health and more.

Breast cancer screenings were among the elective procedures that were put on hold in March under state and federal guidelines, creating a backlog for thousands of women. However, those restrictions have been lifted for several months now. If you haven’t had a mammogram since last year, it’s time to make that appointment.

“Some women may be tempted to say, ‘I’m going to skip this year, and I’ll just go back next year when things are a little bit better.’ We don’t want that to happen,” Schilling said. “We don’t want a delay of a few months to turn into a year. We will see bigger, palpable breast cancers if patients don’t come in for their screenings.”

Statistics show that one in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. Despite advances, it is the second-leading cause of cancer death among women. Experts estimate that in 2020, there will be 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed in the U.S. and more than 42,170 breast cancer deaths.

While mammograms don’t prevent breast cancer, they can save lives by detecting it before a lump can be felt. When found in the early stages while breast cancer is still localized, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent.

Although concerns about COVID-19 might be at the forefront right now, that should not derail regular health screenings or medical care. Even if mammograms have never detected problems in the past, patients can’t assume they’re in the clear for the future. Cancers grow at different rates, and a “normal” mammogram one year is no guarantee that things won’t change the next time.

“Annual screenings are really important. They have helped us cut the mortality of breast cancer over the years by 40 percent,” Schilling said. “We have to maintain the screening protocols or we will lose the gains from the past. Without timely screening, we’re going to see a lot more patients presenting with larger cancers that require more aggressive therapies and more radical surgeries.”

The institute’s Schmidt Family Center for Breast Care uses the most advanced, state-of-the-art imaging equipment to get 3-D breast scans. The innovative Senographe Pristina produces faster and more detailed pictures than traditional X-ray images. The equipment was designed for patient comfort, with gentle, rounded corners and contoured armrests instead of handgrips to enhance relaxation. In addition, control can literally be in the hands of the patient with the Dueta remote device, which allows patient-initiated compression for a more comfortable mammogram.

New this year, revolutionary “artificial intelligence” software is assisting radiologists in detecting abnormalities with unrivaled accuracy, resulting in 8 percent higher cancer detection rates and 7 percent fewer false-positive exams.

“We opened with the simple mission of saving lives through early cancer detection,” said Schilling, noting that the Schmidt Center is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. “Thanks to innovative technologies and treatments, clinical research and partnerships with skilled professionals, we are doing just that.”

In 2019, for example, the percentage of breast cancer cases the Lynn Women’s Institute caught in the early stages was 72 percent. The national percentage was 49 percent.

Patients can return to the Schmidt Center’s three locations with confidence, knowing that safeguards are in place to prevent exposure to the virus. In addition to contactless registration, enhanced cleaning and social distancing in the lobby, the center is taking safety steps such as doubling the time between appointments and having patients undress alone in the exam room rather than in a common changing room. Everyone, including all staff, must wear a mask.

“Patients shouldn’t be fearful,” Schilling said. “They can trust that we are doing everything we possibly can to protect them.”

Don’t allow finances to deter you, either. If you have no health insurance due to pandemic-related layoffs or for any other reason, you may qualify for assistance to get a mammogram. The institute has generous donors and outstanding community support from organizations such as PinkBall, a group of local “baseball moms” who raise money to help cover breast care for underinsured or uninsured women. For more information about financial assistance, call (561) 955-4294.

“We are here to provide women unparalleled care for every stage of life,” Schilling said. “We address a woman’s unique medical needs with unrelenting attention to clinical excellence, patient satisfaction and patient safety.”

Learn more about Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute at www.brrh.com/services/lynn-womens-institute. To request an appointment at a Baptist Health diagnostic imaging location, call (786) 573-6000 or visit www.baptisthealth.net/breasthealth For other questions, call the patient care coordinator at (561) 955-7130.

Wellington Regional Medical Center Opens Wellington Center Of Internal Medicine Supporting Patients

Once patients are discharged from the hospital, being quickly readmitted is not high on their list of upcoming goals. Providing appropriate care while in the hospital and follow-up care after discharge can help to reduce the need for readmission. In fact, that follow-up care can be critical in making sure that the progress patients make in the hospital continues after discharge.

With the changing model of dedicated hospitalist-based care, the hospitalist physician has become standard practice in medicine. For patients who do not have a primary doctor, or at the request of a community physician, an internal medicine physician assigned to the hospital provides care for patients while they are hospitalized.

The hospitalist follows the patient throughout the stay, and when the patient is well enough to be discharged, patients are referred back to their primary care physician. But what about patients who do not have a primary provider? To help address this gap and to provide the continuum of care from the hospital bedside and beyond, Wellington Regional Medical Center has opened the Wellington Center of Internal Medicine located on the hospital’s main campus.

The new clinic provides patients discharged from WRMC the opportunity to have the important follow-up care with physicians who were part of their care team while in the hospital.

As a teaching hospital, the physicians at the Wellington Center of Internal Medicine have access to the latest medical education, clinical research and up-to-date clinical practices. All that expertise is now available in an outpatient setting through the new clinic.

“The Wellington Center for Internal Medicine is committed to providing exceptional adult primary care,” said Dr. Alejandro Biglione, associate program director of the Wellington Center for Internal Medicine. “Our goal is to ensure that our patients feel comfortable with their health knowing that they have a medical provider for life.”

The Wellington Center of Internal Medicine is a full-service outpatient internal medicine practice with five exam rooms, an onsite lab and a procedural room.

The clinic is located 10111 W. Forest Hill Blvd, Suite 231, in the building located directly east of the hospital’s main entrance. It specializes in the treatment of patients age 18 and over. Some of the services available at the clinic include wellness checkups, sick visits, post-hospital follow-up care, diabetes maintenance, management of chronic conditions, immunizations, sports physicals and chronic medical condition management.

“Your health is important to us. That is why our physicians follow the latest guidelines and treatments when caring for our patients,” Biglione said. “Whether it is for a routine physical or a serious illness that requires a hospital stay, the team at the Wellington Center of Internal Medicine is committed to providing quality adult primary care.”

The center can accommodate walk-ins and same-day visits for urgent patient care needs. To schedule an appointment, call (561) 472-2590. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and accepts most health insurances.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society To Host 2020 Light The Night Event Nov. 12 Going Virtual

In a world of uncertainty, one thing is for sure — cancer doesn’t stop during a global crisis. Individuals and communities nationwide are tapping into their inner creativity and survival skills to pivot to, at least for now, a virtual way of living. This year, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) will host its signature community fundraising campaign, Light The Night, as a virtual event.

Given the ongoing health risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, LLS determined that a virtual Light The Night is the most responsible approach. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be the most inspiring and impacting Light The Night ever, because just as blood cancer sees no boundaries, this year’s Light The Night can be everywhere and anywhere. LLS’s Palm Beach-Treasure Coast chapter will host its 2020 Light The Night virtual event on Thursday, Nov. 12.

“Blood cancer patients need us now more than ever. We will gather virtually to bring light to the darkness of cancer, creating memorable moments across the country, through an exciting, interactive virtual experience for LLS staff, volunteers, patients and all supporters,” said DeAnn Hazey, LLS executive director of the South Florida Region. “As we’ve done throughout our 71-year history, LLS will ‘virtually’ reinvent the peer-to-peer fundraising category through our unparalleled ingenuity, resourcefulness, innovation and relentless drive to deliver our mission.”

Light The Night is a fundraising event benefiting LLS and its funding of lifesaving research to find blood cancer cures. Coming together for a common goal, friends, family and co-workers form fundraising walk teams. Culminating in inspiration and memorable evening walks every fall, participants in communities across North America join together carrying illuminated lanterns to take steps to end cancer — white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer.

LLS’s signature fundraisers like Light The Night have helped LLS invest nearly $1.3 billion in cutting-edge research worldwide, fueling nearly every critical advancement in blood cancer treatment that spans the most promising treatment approaches now being tested in clinical trials for other cancers and diseases.

“Light The Night’s virtual platform will be an interactive and engaging experience allowing LLS supporters and volunteers to enjoy the same iconic elements of Light The Night — illuminated lanterns, Circle of Survivors and the Remembrance Pavilion — in a different format but with the same passion to bring an end to blood cancers once and for all,” Hazey said. “Join us as, together, LLS will be the voice that speaks up, the hand that reaches out and the light that cures cancer.”

Last year, there were almost 200 teams registered for the Palm Beach and Boca Raton walks combined. The virtual event is expected to grow that number, as the walk is more accessible to not only fundraisers and sponsors, but patients and survivors, who would not otherwise be able to attend this year’s event.

Teams participate in the event from all over the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast region, coming from Boca Raton to Wellington up to Vero Beach. The interactive web site features a virtual Circle of Survivors, Remembrance Pavilion, Opening Ceremony, Kids Zone and more.

To form a team or to learn more about how you can become involved in this year’s virtual Light The Night campaign, visit www.lightthenight.org/sofl.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a global leader in the fight against cancer. Its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

The LLS Children’s Initiative is a $100 million multi-year effort to take on children’s cancer through every facet of LLS’s mission: research, patient education and support, and policy and advocacy. The LLS Children’s Initiative includes more pediatric research grants, a global precision medicine clinical trial, expanded free education and support services for children and families, and driving policies and laws that break down barriers to care. To learn more, visit www.lls.org/childrens-initiative.

Founded in 1949 in New York, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.lls.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tasty, Unique Dishes In A Quaint Atmosphere At Mole Cantina Mexicana Authentic Mexican

The Mexican cuisine is as diverse as the sauce behind the name at one of Wellington’s newest restaurants, Mole Cantina Mexicana on State Road 7.

“It’s a melting pot,” owner Nick Cervera said. “Mole is a special sauce. It has got a chocolate base and is made with about 30 different ingredients. It’s used primarily for very special events. It’s got dried chillies, nuts, dried banana, spices and it comes in a paste form. It’s a very complicated sauce — an ancient sauce that originated in Puebla.”

It’s that integration of ingredients that served as inspiration for Cervera and his wife Maria Elizalde, who is the chef and creator of the cantina’s cuisine.

“We opened our first location back in 1991 in New York City, where I’m from. We were first dating. She’s Mexican, I’m Italian American. It was like a metaphor for New York — a melting pot of many different ingredients. It was a ‘mole’ of sorts,” Cervera recalled.

Three New York locations later and now one in Florida, the duo brings with them a broad range of cuisine, much based on their travels throughout Mexico, as well as Elizalde’s native Mexico City. Her mother creates the blend for their unique mole sauce and ships it to the restaurant, where it’s then completed, homemade in-house.

Their specialty Enchiladas De Mole Poblano is one of those dishes with the sweet, nutty, yet subtly spicy delicacy. It’s made with three shredded chicken enchiladas smothered in the artisanal homemade mole poblano sauce topped with melted cheese, sesame seeds and avocado slices. It’s hugely popular, as are a number of other authentic dishes.

“We have different dishes from all different regions, like the Cochinita Pibil. That is a dish from the Yucatan and the surrounding regions. We have carnitas, which is from Michoacán,” Cervera said. “Sometimes we do barbacoa, which is from Hidalgo. So, all the dishes come from different regions. We also do beautiful nightly specials, and not something that is leftover. They’re specials because we want to show the regionality of the food that you wouldn’t find anywhere else.”

The two do all their own shopping locally and base their specials on what they find. “If we’re at the market and find a nice piece of meat, we’ll do, for instance, a prime New York strip steak grilled. So, we’ll do steak fajitas. We also found oysters, so we did oyster tacos Baja-style from the west coast of Mexico,” Cervera said.

Their ceviche is a delicacy dripping with freshness, served cocktail style. “There’s the shrimp ceviche, or ceviche Campuzano served with shrimp and octopus. Our ceviches are phenomenal,” Cervera said.

Another favorite appetizer is the Queso Fundido, a fondue made with Chihuahua cheese that comes out on a sizzling, cast-iron plate. “We also do the Americanized version of Mexican food, like burritos and hard-shell tacos and chimichangas,” Cervera added.

The cantina truly is a unique blend with all the feelings of Mexico and a design Cervera created for each of his restaurants with the intent to bring customers on a trip with him.

Warm golden walls surround the dining area. Black and white photos tell unique stories of roads less traveled. Bold chandeliers create a subtle elegance, as do petite, colorful papier-mâché flower centerpieces dotting every table. Each table is also unique, handcrafted with 200-year-old reclaimed wood.

The open kitchen and serving area archway is filled with authentic Mexican tiles. “That’s our look. It’s designed from an ancient tile from Puebla, Mexico,” Cervera said.

Those tiles can also be seen at the bar, which offers 125 different tequilas and mezcals. They’re housed overhead in unique tequila cages.

“Our margaritas — we use a fresh squeezer. We don’t mix, and we use 100 percent pure lime juice. We offer our tequilas and mezcals by the glass. You can make it into a margarita or have it on the rocks,” Cervera said.

There’s also a wide variety of beer, as well a scotch and bourbon list. Cervera even has his own brand of tequila, “Don Reyes,” which is a tribute to Elizalde’s father. “It has a creamy, caramelly nose with a strong agave finish,” he explained.

The bar extends to the outdoor patio, creating an open-air space connecting the two. “The bar is set up so you can sit outside or inside,” he said. “The back bar and cabinetry behind the bar is made from centuries-old white pine, all brought down from New York.”

In all, there is seating for 130 between both the dining room and 12 outdoor tables. It’s a perfect atmosphere night or day, including weekends for Mexican brunch, which includes a variety of huevos dishes, Bloody Mary specialty drinks and mimosas.

Opening in early February, they’ve been working hard on their labor of love through the pandemic. As restrictions are lifted, Cervera plans to add entertainment, like a salsa night. He’s also an avid car collector and hopes to host a car event, as well as tequila tastings.

For now, they’re focused on filling their customers with their unique cuisine. “My portions are huge,” Cervera said. “No one has ever complained in my restaurant in 30 years that my portions are small.”

It’s that spirit of fulfillment and diversity of flavor that they hope will keep their customers coming back and bring new ones to explore Mexican culture through their cuisine. “Who else has mole made by hand?” Cervera asked.

Mole Cantina Mexicana is located at 2557 S. State Road 7, Suite 150, near Whole Foods Market in Wellington Green Commons. Hours are Monday through Thursday noon to 10 p.m., Friday noon to 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Carryout and delivery are available.

For more info., call (561) 355-5322 or visit www.molecantinamexicana.com.

Newly Completed Promenade Transforms  Village’s Lake Wellington Waterfront
Town Center

Have you taken a stroll along the new Wellington Town Center Promenade? If not, head on over to the Wellington Community Center and look behind the building for the newly renovated and expanded Lake Wellington waterfront.

Once bordered by weeds and rushes, Lake Wellington now features a lit, paved walkway that runs the length of the shore from behind the great lawn near the Wellington Community Center to the Lake Wellington Professional Centre.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the view — it’s still stunning, especially at sunset.

The concept of a “town center,” a place of gathering for all of Wellington’s residents, has been a key consideration in long-term strategic planning for most of the past decade. In August 2017, the Wellington Village Council first began discussing “activating the waterfront,” specifically referring to the lakefront area behind the community center. The council approved the final promenade design in May 2019.

Work on this highly anticipated project started in October 2019 with the construction of an 800-foot retaining wall. Once the retaining wall was complete, it was time for the 20-foot paver promenade, as well as concrete posts and railings along the water’s edge.

Special lighting for the columns, along with light poles, benches, trash bins and water fountains followed. The dog-friendly promenade runs the length of the 800-foot retaining wall ranging from 20 to 30 feet in width.

The lake’s existing gazebo and dock were incorporated into the plan, and the entire project was completed in July 2020, although additional docks for boaters may be added later, pending a U.S. Department of the Interior Land & Water Conservation Fund grant.

Once the grant is finalized as hoped, fabrication and installation of the additional docks could be completed by late October.

“What we’ve created here is a place for families, children and seniors to come together and enjoy all the great things that our village has to offer. When we think of Wellington, we think parks and green spaces,” Mayor Anne Gerwig said. “With the completion of this new promenade, we’ve added a new feature to our community’s list of highlights — an inviting way to take advantage of this beautiful waterfront.”

The area has already become a getaway spot for joggers, families and people just seeking a quiet place for reflection.

“This boardwalk and the Town Center project concept, as a whole, reinforces our commitment to enhancing the quality of life that makes Wellington a great place to live and raise a family,” Vice Mayor Tanya Siskind explained.

The next addition to the lakefront will be a children’s playground, to be located near the promenade just north of the existing pavilion. With funding provided through another grant, the site plan and engineering design contract for this Phase 2 edition came before the Wellington Village Council last month with other possible concepts, including expansion of the nearby Wellington Amphitheater grounds and Scott’s Place playground.

“As a Wellington resident and a father, I am excited for the future of the village’s Town Center,” Councilman Michael Drahos said. “The new playground and boat docks will cater to residents of all ages and will provide additional opportunities for recreation and leisure activities on the waterfront.”

Further additions to the Town Center area, which also includes the Wellington Municipal Complex, the Patriot Memorial and the Wellington Aquatics Complex, are expected in the years to come.

“This is just the beginning for our Town Center,” Councilman John McGovern said. “Years from now, when Lake Wellington becomes our village’s go-to spot for events and gatherings, we will look back at our promenade project and be thankful for the forethought and planning that made it all possible. I commend village staff and my fellow council members for their dedication to preserving and enhancing our Lake Wellington waterfront.”

A summer of activities had been planned to unveil this new gem to the Wellington community. Due to the pandemic, those plans are temporarily on hold and a “virtual grand opening” was held instead.

Nevertheless, this new amenity is destined to become a future gathering spot for green markets, festivals and more.

“We’ve often used the phrase ‘a place of gathering’ when discussing this project,” Councilman Michael Napoleone said. “Well, that is exactly what we’ve built here. A place where we can bring our children to play and explore, a place where our seniors can take a sunset stroll and a place that will serve as a backdrop for creating memories for years to come.”

Boating Has Become A COVID-19 Coping Mechanism For Many In The Community Lake Wellington

The lives of Wellington residents — as well as people all around the world — have been restricted and adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The global virus-driven restrictions have had negative ramifications — financially, physically, mentally and emotionally.

To cope with the downsides of the lockdown, people have resorted to watching more television, reading more books, doing more gardening, baking and engaging in more exercise. But some local residents are spending more time on Lake Wellington as a way to mentally cope with the lockdown.

For that very reason, Lake Wellington may well be the best-kept secret and coping mechanism in the community.

The appeal, allure and attraction of lakefront living in the heart of Wellington is one of the main reasons why many people choose to live in this community. While Wellington is well known for its many parks, ball fields, green space, horse trails and spacious sidewalks, which are appealing to walkers, runners, skaters, riders and bicyclists, one of the most underutilized recreational options in Wellington is its aquatic centerpiece — Lake Wellington. And the fact that there’s free and easy access to the lake should make it even more enticing.

Yet many people don’t use it, think about it or even know about it. But, then again, there are also many Wellington residents who can’t imagine life without access to this man-made body of water that is actually bigger and wider than most people realize, until they are in the middle of the lake in a pontoon boat, sailboat, kayak, rowing skull or paddle board.

One of the appealing aspects of Lake Wellington is that gasoline-powered engines are not allowed on the water — only battery-powered motors and, of course, human-powered boats.

Wellington residents who live in the area consider access to Lake Wellington as an extension of their back patio and an integral part of their daily lives, 12 months a year. And when everybody is in their own boat, it’s easy to practice social distancing.

“It’s very calm and peaceful on the lake,” said longtime resident Joetta Palumbo, who grew up in West Virginia. “There’s nothing like morning coffee on the lake during the weekends, and I’ve always loved the sun. This is the life. It’s good, clean fun. Boats bring me so much joy.”

For others, Lake Wellington is a haven of tranquility and a safe refuge, a necessity during the pandemic.

“It’s so peaceful on the lake, and I enjoy meeting up with friends while out on the water,” said Jennifer Davis, a native of Long Island.

“It’s our happy place,” agreed Alicia Maggio, who grew up living along New York’s Hudson River.

“It’s so relaxing to be on Lake Wellington,” added Pam Pazzaglia, whose childhood home was Buffalo, N.Y.

On many occasions, usually in the early evening, Palumbo, Davis, Maggio and Pazzaglia will cruise around the lake in a convoy while sharing thoughts on their lives or their days at work.

In fact, earlier this summer, the four of them decided to mix time on the lake with a meal. They actually had a cookout in the middle of the lake on two of their boats, which were tied to one another and then anchored. A good time was had by all.

“We had hot dogs, shrimp, coleslaw, potato salad, potato chips and all the fixin’s for the hot dogs,” Palumbo said. “We had a few drinks, too.”

Fellow Wellington resident Myrna Delguercio spends her time on the water while navigating a kayak, which allows her to reap mental and physical dividends. When she paddles her kayak, she gets exercise and some much-needed peace of mind, which have helped her manage the mental and emotional hurdles that have impacted her life during the age of the pandemic.

“Kayaking is relaxing. It eliminates stress and allows me to get away from it all,” Delguercio said.

Gary Swedenborg owns and operates one of the bigger pontoon boats on the lake. He’s a regular on Lake Wellington and has been for the last 15 years. He didn’t let the lockdown negatively impact his boating time on the lake.

“I try to get out on the lake about three or four times a week,” said Swedenborg, who also enjoys spotting wildlife on the lake. “I see Muscovy ducks, otters, bald eagles, ospreys and blue herons. I also see squirrels along the banks.”

When he’s in the mood, Swedenborg will grab his fishing pole and attempt to catch and release any of the fish that live in the lake, such as bass, oscar, carp and clown knifefish.

Swedenborg also likes the economic benefits of boating on Lake Wellington.

“At the end of every trip, you don’t have to fill up, just plug in,” he explained.

Having access to an aquatic way of life along Lake Wellington may be one of the village’s best-kept secrets and has emerged as a great way to cope with the negative ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wellington Honors PBSO Deputy Scott Poritz And PBC Fire-Rescue Capt. Craig Dube
First Responders

Among the many standout professionals who work as local first responders, the Village of Wellington annually honors the best of the best when it presents its “Top Cop” and “Top Firefighter” award.

When Wellington’s Public Safety Committee discussed the naming of this year’s award recipients, the consensus was about how hard the decision is every year because there are such good candidates nominated by officials from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue.

This year, the honor for Top Cop went to PBSO Deputy Scott Poritz, while PBCFR Capt. Craig Dube was named Top Firefighter.

Nominated by PBSO Sgt. Andrew Porath, Poritz has been in law enforcement for 18-and-a-half years, the last 14 in Wellington.

“Poritz has become an integral part of the successful programs implemented throughout Wellington,” said Porath, who cited several programs that Poritz has started that benefit residents.

“He helped create the annual Child Safety Experience and continues to coordinate it.” said Porath, explaining that Poritz partnered with Wellington Parks & Recreation along with PBCFR and helped with fundraising to ensure that the event was free to the community. “The event has vendor booths and educational information associated with child development. The event also has an area where kids can experience the different PBSO and PBCFR vehicles. There’s also free [bicycle] helmet fitting and giveaway, along with a child car seat install station.”

Poritz also goes out of his way to help Wellington residents in need, such as aiding an elderly couple age in place when too much stuff in their garage prevented repairs to the ceiling and electrical system. He organized the removal, storage and return of the items.

Poritz also coordinated a partnership between the PBSO, PBCFR and the village with the Center for Autism & Related Disabilities on the annual Day for Autism: Building Bridges with Law Enforcement Picnic. This event seeks to deescalate any future interaction between law enforcement and people with autism by providing a foundation of positive interaction.

Poritz has also taken a lead for the last six years in the massive effort to coordinate law enforcement resource activities for the annual holiday parade in Wellington.

“Poritz has an extensive background in crime prevention in which he is a certified crime prevention practitioner for the State of Florida,” Porath said. “He also advises on the Neighborhood Watch program, which includes 23 groups in Wellington.”

Poritz has worked in road patrol, community policing and crime prevention in Wellington. He enjoys serving in the community.

“What’s not to like about Wellington? There are the residents in the Village of Wellington, the staff of the village… the good people,” he said. “All my years here have been positive experiences.”

With hobbies that are encompassed by the phrase “fatherhood,” Poritz is the proud parent of a four-year-old son.

“I worked my way into the career,” he explained.

While in college, he had several choices for a major and then took a “Policing in America” course. “It snowballed from there, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” he said.

Poritz finds it difficult to pinpoint one thing that he likes most about his job. “It’s hard to choose one, but I would say the ability to work with people and problem-solve,” he said.

Poritz also enjoys the coordination of the PBSO resources with the events he handles, and he noted that the agency gets a great amount of support from the Wellington Village Council and village staff with the many events he oversees.

Nominated by PBCFR Battalion Chief Ken Wooldridge, Dube has been a Palm Beach County firefighter for more than 25 years.

Assigned to Wellington, where he has been a resident for almost as many years, Dube worked as a medic and certified driver before being named to the lieutenant short list, then bypassing it to be promoted to captain.

“I have known Craig since my earliest days at fire-rescue,” Wooldridge said. “He is a good friend.”

Wooldridge described Dube as a model employee and supervisor. “He takes an active role in the lives of those he works with both on and off duty,” he said. “His crew at Station 20 has been together for quite a while and are loyal to him, citing his excellent leadership abilities and willingness to constantly improve on the basics of the job.”

Wooldridge particularly noted Dube’s humility as he works to get the job done.

“He is quiet, mild-mannered and always ready to work hard to meet the department’s goals and objectives in the areas of training, education and consistency,” Wooldridge said.

This is evidenced by his always positive attitude and willingness to respond to whatever needs to get done during the shift, whether it be a job task or helping out a fellow crew member.

“What I like most about Craig is his ability to maintain a cool head in the most challenging of emergency incidents,” Wooldridge said, adding that he has the strength and courage to make the right decision even when it might not be the most popular one. “This quality alone makes him an exceptional leader in the fire service and in the community.”

Dube is a family man with five daughters. His wife had three, including a set of twins, from a previous marriage. She and Dube have a set of twins of their own.

“It has been exciting. The youngest just turned 18 and is graduating from high school,” said Dube, who loves living in Wellington because it has such a great family environment. “It’s the place I wanted to settle down and have a family.”

His life in Wellington predates his time as a parent.

“When I moved out here, I was still single,” recalled Dube, who decided to become a firefighter in his early 20s after studying business at Palm Beach State College and working as a sales and service representative.

“I had been working out since I was 18 in a gym, and some of my workout friends we’re becoming firefighters,” said Dube, who explained that their career path got him interested in community service. “I am about five years behind those friends in my career.”

When he is not helping people, saving lives and property, Dube and his family have gotten into camping in recent years. Concentrating their trips in Florida so far, he just returned from 10 days of camping in the Keys. “We try to go to a different place each time,” he said.

Dube enjoys his ability to help those in need.

“I like the job because I like helping people, the excitement of the job, never knowing what the next call will be,” he said, explaining that it might be an elderly person who fell down or it might be a three-car pileup requiring extrication.

Dube noted that an exciting call in his line of work is also probably somebody’s worst nightmare coming true.

“We strive to have those positive outcomes. That’s why we train so much, so we can do our best every single call for any kind of emergency,” Dube said. “We try and do a good job every single time and do it right. There’s not a better job in the world.”